Electrical plug to receptacle latch



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PM! R. an BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,488,622 ELECTRICAL PLUG T0 RECEPTACLE LATCH Paul R. Gley, Hillsdale, N..l., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Rex Chainbelt Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed June 12, 1967, Ser. No. 645,456 Int. Cl. H01r 13/62, 13/54 US. Cl. 33945 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A latch assembly for engaging and disengaging a multiple contact pin plug assembly with respective receptacles of a friction receptacle assembly in which a handle movably mounted on one of the assemblies operates interen'gageable means on the assemblies to force the pins into frictional engagement in one direction of movement of the handle and positively withdraws the pins from the receptacles in the other direction of movement of the handle. My assembly provides a positive locking action when the contact pins are in the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art in order to achieve the operation of connecting the plug assembly to the receptacle assembly, screws normally are employed. This arrangement involves a number of disadvantages. First, the operation of fastening the plug assembly to the receptacle assembly in this manner is a time consuming one. Another disadvantage of this arrangement is that the completeness with which the plug and receptacle assemblies have been brought together cannot readily be determined. There is moreover no easy way of determining whether or not the screws have become cross-threaded or otherwise damaged in the course of the fastening operation.

I have invented an electrical plug to recepatcle latch which overcomes the defects of fastening means which have heretofore been employed to secure the plug assembly to the receptacle assembly. My latch assembly permits the plug to be assembled on the receptacle in a rapid and expeditious manner. It locks the plug to the receptacle in such a way as minimizes the possibility of accidental disengagement of the parts as a result of vibration or the like. My latch assembly permits the degree of completeness of the assembly operation to be readily visually determined.

Summary of the invention One object of my invention is to provide an electrical plug to receptacle latch which overcomes the defects of plug to receptacle fastening means known in the prior art.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electrical plug to receptacle latch assembly which permits a plug assembly to be secured in operative relationship with a receptacle assembly in a rapid and expeditious manner.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an electrical plug receptacle assembly which permits visual "ice inspection to determine the degree of completeness of the assembling operation.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of an electrical plug to receptacle latch in which a rotating handle on one of the two assemblies operates interengageable means on the respective assemblies with a mechanical advantage to provide a uniform force for drawing the parts together securely to assemble the plug assembly on the receptacle assembly. Reversal of the direction of handle movement provides a positive force for withdrawing the plug pins from the receptacles. Visual observation of the condition of my latch readily indicates whether or not the plug assembly and latch assembly have been brought into their fully engaged condition. In the mated condition of the assemblies, my latch assembly has a positive locking action.

Brief description of the drawings In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith ad in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a plug and receptacle assembly provided with one form of my electrical plug to receptacle latch before the plug and receptacle have been assembled.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the form of my latch shown in FIGURE 1 after operation to bring the plug and receptacle into fully mated condition.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an electrical plug and latch assembly provided with an alternate form of my electrical plug to receptacle latch before the plug and receptacle have been brought together.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the plug and receptacle assembly shown in FIGURE 3 after the latches have been operated to connect the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a plug and receptacle assembly provided with a further form of my electrical plug to receptacle latch.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of an electrical plug and receptacle assembly provided with still another form of my electrical plug to receptacle latch.

FIGURE 7 is an end elevation of an electrical plug and receptacle assembly provided with a still further form of my electrical plug to receptacle latch.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of the plug and receptacle assembly illustrated in FIGURE 7.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the electrical plug indicated generally by the reference character 10 with which my latch is used includes a casing 12 and a body 14 carrying a multiplicity of electrical contacts 16 associated with a plurality of terminals 18 to which leads can be connected to make contact with the connectors 16. It will readily be understood that while I have shown only a few of the contacts 16 and terminals 18, as a matter of fact the body 14 carries a very large number of contacts and terminals. The receptacle assembly indicated generally by the reference character 20 for receiving the plug assembly 10' comprises a base 22 and a casing 24 provided with a plurality of receptacles 26 for receiving the plug pins 16 to make the electrical connections which are intended to be made by means of the plug and receptacle assembly. As is known in the art, when the latch assembly 10 is fully mated with the receptacle assembly 20, pins 16 are frictionally engaged with the walls of the receptacles 26.

I provide the plug with respective left and righthand latch assemblies 28 and 30 which are adapted to engage respective strike pins, of which only the pin 32 associated with the righthand latch assembly is shown. Each of the assemblies 28 and 30 includes a supporting bracket 34, the base 36 of which is secured to the casing 12 by means of bolts 38 and nuts 40. Each of the brackets 34 carries a pivot pin 42 which supports a handle 44 for pivotal movement. I provide each of the handles 44 with a thumbpiece 46 which facilitates operation of the latch.

Each of the handles 44 carries an eccentric pin 48 for pivotally supporting a drawhook 50, the hook 52 of which is adapted to engage one of the strike pins 32 when the latch is operated. Each of the drawhooks 50 is formed With a projection 54 adapted to be engaged by the thumbpiece 46 as the assembly is moved to the closed position to ensure that the hook 52 engages its associated pin, such as the pin 32.

Considering the operation of the assembly 30, for example, with the parts in the position shown in FIGURE 1, the plug assembly 10 is moved down into the receptacle assembly 20 with the pins 16 aligned with the holes 26. I provide the casing 12 with a guide pin 56 adapted to be moved into a slot 58 as the plug assembly 10 moves into the receptacle assembly 20 to ensure the initial alignment of the pins 16 with the holes 26. If desired, I may provide another pin and slot offset with respect to the pin and slot 56 to ensure that the proper pins 16 are aligned with the holes 26. With the parts in this position, the handle 44 is moved in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. When this is done, thumbpiece 46 engages the drawhook 50 to ensure that the hook 52 moves under pin 32. Upon further movement of the handle 44, eccentric pin 48 moves to an over dead center position with respect to the pin 42 to provide a toggle latching action.

-The operation of the latch assembly 28 is substantially the same as is that of the assembly 30. Preferably, however, I so arrange this assembly as to require a counterclockwise movement of handle 44 to bring the parts from their open position to their closed or locking position. Further to facilitate a visual inspection to determine the condition of the parts, I mark the exposed side of thumbpiece 26 in the position of the parts shown in FIGURE 1 with the legend open. I mark the other surface of the thumbpiece 46, which is the exposed surface when the parts are in the position shown in FIGURE 2, with the legend closed. To separate the plug assembly 10' from the receptacle assembly 20, the direction of operation of the two handles 44 of the latch assemblies 28 and 30 is reversed from that described above. As the handles are moved the fiat lower edges of the drawhooks 50 engage the base plate 22 to provide a positive force for withdrawing the pins 16 from receptacles 26. It will be ob served that in the fully mated condition of the plug assembly 10 with the receptacle assembly 20 eccentric pin 48 has traveled to a position beyond dead center with respect to the handle shaft 42.

It is to be understood that with the form of my invention shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, I contemplate concomitant operation of both the assemblies 28 and 30'. Further it will be appreciated that I could so arrange the assemblies that the handles 44 both moved in the same direction from open to closed position. If that is done, I could provide a crossbar for interconnecting the handles. If such were the case, however, the leads connected to the terminals 18 would have to be brought out relatively close to the body 14 of the plug assembly 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, I have shown an alternate form of my electrical plug to receptacle assembly wherein I provide the casing 12 and the casing 24 respectively with a guide pin 60 and a guide slot 62. I arrange these pairs of elements at a displaced location with reference to that of the pin 56 and slot 58 to ensure that the correct pins 16 are aligned with the desired holes 26. I provide each side of the receptacle assembly 20 shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 with a respective latch assembly, one of which is indicated generally by the reference character 64.

The assembly 64 includes a lever 66 loosely supported at one end thereof on a pivot pin 68 carried by the casing 24. A spring 70 carried by the pin 68 acts between the wall of the casing 24 and the upper edge of the lever 66 normally to urge the lever to move in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3. This action normally holds the lever in a position at which it is out of the way. In the form of my latch shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, pins 56 and 60 serve not only as guide pins but also as the strikes of the latch assemblies. Each lever 66 is formed with a hook 72 at a point intermediate its ends on the lower edge thereof. The end of the lever 66 remote pin 68 has a thumbpiece 74. I provide a retainer pin 76 for each of the levers 66.

In operation of the form of my latch shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, the plug assembly 10 first is moved down into the receptacle 20 with the guide pins or strikes 56 and 60 moving down into the guide slots 58 and 62 and projecting beyond the sides of the casing 24. As this is done, the levers 66 are moved with reference to their pivots to positions over the pins 56 and 60 so that the undersides of the levers can engage the pins 56 and '60. Next, both levers are moved downwardly to force the plug assembly pins into the holes 26. Ultimately, the plug assembly is fully seated in the latch assembly and the two levers are moved inwardly under the retaining pins 76, the heads of which hold the levers in this position to prevent accidental disengagement of the plug assembly from the receptacle assembly. To remove the plug assembly 10 from the receptacle assembly 20, the levers 66 are moved out from under the retainer pins 76 and drawn upwardly. Upon this movement of the levers 66 the hooks 72 positively engage the pins 56 and 60 to draw the plug assembly 10 out of the receptacle assem-- bly 20.

Referring now to FIGURES 5, I have shown what is the preferred embodiment of my latch assembly indicated generally by the reference character 78 for securing the plug assembly 10 to the receptacle assembly 20. In this form of my latch assembly 78, I provide bolts 80 and nuts 82 for securing the base 84 of a drawslide housing 86 to the base 22 of the receptacle assembly 20. The housing 86 receives a drawplate 88 for vertical sliding movement. Bolts 90 and nuts 92 secure the base 94 of a strike pin bracket '96 to the casing 12. Each of the brackets 96 carries a strike pin 98 adapted to be received in the hook 100 of the corresponding drawplate 88. It will be apparent that I provide one of the assemblies 78 at each end of the plug and receptacle assemblies. A shaft 102 on housing 86 rotatably supports a handle 104 provided with a thumbpiece 106 by means of which the handle can be operated. An eccentric pin 108 extends through an arcuate slot 110 in the outer wall of housing 86 and into a transverse slot 112 in slide 88 to connect the handle 104 to the drawplate or drawslide 88.

In FIGURE 5 I have illustrated the relative positions of the various parts in the open position, which is the position occupied by the parts when the plug assembly is free of the latch assembly. It will be appreciated that in this position, the plug assembly can readily be removed from the drawplates 88. If, with the plug assembly in place, it is desired to connect the assembly with the receptacle, handles 104 are rotated to move the pins 108 from the full line position shown in FIGURE 5 to the broken line position. In the course of that operation, the drawplates 88 move downwardly and carry the plug assembly 10 into the receptacle assembly 20 to drive pins 16 into the holes 26. I may provide this form of my invention with legends on the surfaces of thumbpiece 106 for indicating the condition of the latch assemblies. Reversal of the direction of rotation of the handles 104 positively withdraws the plug assembly from the latch assembly.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, I have shown yet another form of my latch assembly indicated generally by the reference character 114 for securing the plug assembly to the receptacle assembly 20. In this form of my latch assembly, bolts 116 secure the base 118 of a handle mounting bracket 120 to the casing 12. Bracket 120 carries a pin 122 which rotatably supports a handle 124 having a thumbpiece 126. An eccentric pin 128 on the handle 124 suspends a drawtongue mounting bracket 130 from the handle 124. Ears 132 and 134 on bracket 130 receive the shaft 136 of a drawtongue 138 formed with an opening 140. Bolts 142 secure the base 144 of a strike pin mounting bracket 146 to the base 22. The bracket 146 carries a strike pin 148.

Again it will be appreciated that I provide an assembly 114 at each end of the plug and receptacle assemblies. To secure the plug assembly 10 to the receptacle assembly 20, I place the parts in approximately mating relationship. In the course of this operation tongues 138 -first are swung outwardly and then moved back toward the receptacle body so that the pins 148 extend through openings 140. After that has been done, the handles 124 are rotated from an open position corresponding to that shown in FIGURE 6 to a closed position to draw the plug and receptacle assemblies into fully connected relationship.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8, in yet another modfication of my electrical plug and receptacle assembly indicated generally by the reference character ;150, any suitable means such, for example, as bolts 152 secure the base 154 of a handle mounting bracket to the casing 12. The bracket includes respective laterally spaced ears 156 and 158 carrying the handle shaft 160. The ,shaft 160 passes through flanges 162 and 164 on the handle 166 pivotally to support the handle for movement from the open position shown in full lines in FIGURE 8 to the closed position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 8. Respective openings 168 and 170 in the handle flanges receive projections on a drawplate 172 to support the plate for swinging movement.

Any suitable means such, for example, as bolts 174 secure the base 176 of a strike bracket 178 on the base 22. I form bracket 178 with an interrupted flange 180 having a central opening 182 therein. I provide the drawplate 172 with respective notches 184 and 186 in the side edges thereof.

In use of the form my latch assembly 150 shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, to secure the plug assembly 10 to the receptacle assembly 20, the former first is moved down into the latter. I may or may not provide guide pins and slots for ensuring correct alignment of the plug pins with the receptacle holes. It is to be understood that preferably I provide an assembl 150 at each end of the plug and receptacle assembly. As the plug assembly is moved toward the receptacle assembly, the plates 172 will be moved outwardly by the edge of flange 180 until the slots 184 and 186 are aligned with the portions of the flange at the edges of the openings 182. The plates 172 then drop into a position at which the portions of the plates below slots 184 and 186 are under the flange 180. With the parts in that position, the two handles 166 are moved from the full line position shown in FIGURE 8 to the broken line position shown therein. When that is done, the drawplate pivots move to a position over dead center with reference to the shaft 160 to provide a toggle holding action for retaining the plug assembly 10 in position in the receptacle assembly 20. When the plug assembly is to be separated from the receptacle assembly, the handles are moved to their open positions, thus providing a positive force for withdrawing the plug pins from the receptacle holes.

The operation of all forms of my latch assembly for securing an electrical plug assembly to an electrical receptacle assembly will be apparent from the description given hereinabove. In the form of the latch assemblies 28 and 30 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the respective handles of the two assemblies are rotated counterclockwise and clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1 after initial positioning of the plug assembly 10 with respect to the latch assembly 20. When the handles have been moved to fully closed position, a toggle action holds the plug assembly firmly in place on the receptacle assembly. When it is desired to disengage the parts, rotation of the handles is reversed and in the course of that operation, the lower edges of the drawhooks 50 engage the base 22 to provide a positive action for withdrawing the pins 16 from the holes 26.

In operation of the form of my assembly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, after initial positioning of the plug assembly on the receptacle assembly, with proper indexing provided by the pins 56 and 60 cooperating with the slots 58 and 62, the levers 66 are moved to positions over pins 56 and 60 and are moved downwardly to force the plug pins into the receptacle holes. In the course of this operation, the respective pins 56 and 60 become disposed in hooks 72. When the plug assembly is firmly seated, the levers 66 are moved under the pins 76 to lock the assembly. To disengage the parts, the levers 66 are moved out from under pins 76 and drawn upwardly so that hooks 72 exert a positive force on pins 56 and 60 to withdraw the plug pins from the receptacle holes.

In operation of the form of my latch assembly 78 shown in FIGURE 5, with the two latch assemblies in their open positions, plug assembly 10 is mounted on the drawplates 88 by slipping the pins 98 in under the hooks 100. The handles 104 then are rotated to move pins 108 along the arcuate tracks in the housings 86. In the course of that movement, the pins 108 also travel along the lateral slots 112 in the drawplates and exert a force on the plates to draw the plug assembly 10 down into firm engagement with the receptacle assembly 20 until pins 108 travel beyond dead center with reference to the shafts 102 to lock the assembly. Reversal of the handle movement provides a positive force for withdrawing the plug pins 16 from the receptacles 26.

The operation of the form of my latch assembly 114 shown in FIGURE 6 is similar to that described above in connection with the form of my latch shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. After initial positioning of the plug assembly on the receptacle assembly, the tongues 138 are engaged with pins 148 and the handles are rotated to draw the brackets and the tongues 138 carried thereby up wardly with reference to the receptacle assembly. Reversal of the handle movment provides a positive withdrawing force owing to the engagement of the pins 148 with the edges of the tongue openings 140.

In operation of the latch assembly shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, after initial positioning of the parts, the drawplates 172 are in operative engagement with the flange of the strike bracket 178. Movement of the handles to closed position provides a positive force for moving the plug assembly into the receptacle assembly, while movement of the handles to their open positions provides a positive force for withdrawing the plug assembly pins from the receptacle assembly holes.

All forms of my latch assembly provide a positive lock when the plug and latch assemblies are completely mated.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided a latch assembly for securing an electrical plug assembly to an electrical receptacle assembly in a rapid and expeditious manner. My assembly permits a visual inspection readily to indicate whether or not the parts are fully mated. My assembly provides a positive force for engaging the parts and for locking them in engaged position. It also provides a 7 positive force for withdrawing the plug pins from the receptacle holes. It does not require any auxiliary or special tools for its operation.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A latch assembly for securing a multiple-pin electrical connection assembly to an electrical receptacle assembly having a multiplicity of respective receptacles for fritctionally receiving said pins including in combination, a first handle, means mounting said handle on one of said pin and receptacle assemblies for rotary movement in a clockwise direction from an open position to a closed position, first means providing a two way positive driving connection between said first handle and the other assembly for urging said pins into said receptacles in response to movement of said handle from said open to said closed position and for urging said pins out of said handle from receptacles in response to movement of said handle from said closed position to said open position, a second handle, means mounting said second handle on said One assembly for rotary movement in a counterclockwise direction from an .open position to a closed position and second means providing a two way positive driving connection between said second handle and the other assembly for urging said pins into said receptacles in response to movement of said second handle from its open to its closed position and for urging said pins out of said receptacles in response to movement of said second handle from its closed to its open position.

2. A latch assembly as in claim 1 in which each of said first and second handle movement responsive means comprises means for locking said assemblies to each other after said pins have moved into said receptacles.

3. A latch assembly as in claim 1 in which each of said handles has a laterally extending thumbpiece thereon, each thumbpiece lying generally in the plane of its associated assembly in the open position and in the closed position of the corresponding handle and respective position indicating legends on the opposite surfaces of each of said thumbpieces.

4. A latch assembly as in claim 1 in which each of said first and second handle movement responsive means is a toggle latch.

5. A latch assembly as in claim 1 in which each of said two way driving connections comprises a drawing element and an eccentric connection between the drawing element and its associated handle.

6. A latch assembly as in claim 1 in which each of said two way driving connections comprises a drawhook, an eccentric connection between the drawhook and the associated handle and respective lugs on the other assembly adapted to be received by said drawhook.

7. A latch assembly as in claim 1 in which each of said two way driving connections comprises a drawplate, means mounting said draw plate for sliding movement, a hook on the plate, a lug on the other for receiving the hook and an eccentric pin and slot connection between the handle and the plate.

8. A latch assembly for securing a multiple-pin electrical connection assembly to an electrical receptacle assembly having a multiplicity of respective receptacles for frictionally receiving said pins including in combination a drawplate, a housing on one of said assemblies for slidably receiving said drawplate, said housing having an outside wall, a handle, means mounting said handle on the outside of said housing wall, an open hook on said drawplate, a stud on the other assembly engageable by said hook, an arcuate slot in said housing wall, a slot in said drawplate, and an eccentric pin on said handle extending through said arcuate slot and into said drawplate slot, said eccentric pin and drawplate slot cooperating to drive said drawplate linearly in response to rotary movement .of said handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,432,120 12/1947 Neill 33910 2,510,944 6/ 1950 Auerbach. 2,594,748 4/ 1952 Earl. 2,724,094 11/1955 Lewis. 3,059,206 10/ 1962 Williams.

FOREIGN PATENTS 100,957 9/1925 Austria.

658,628 10/1951 Great Britain.

' MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

Patent No. 488 622 Dated Jan. 6, 1970 Inventofls) Paul y It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

friotionally.

Column '7, line 25, delete "handle from".

( Auest:

Edward M. Fletcher, 11'.

Attesting Officer SIGNED -KND SEALED JUN9 1910 WILLIAM E. SUI-11m, JR. Commissioner of Patents 

